Just in time for must-mani, must-pedi season, two new nail salons have been added to the healthy mix of Rittenhouse-adjacent walk-ins. First, I got a very serviceable, 12-buck manicure at Jeans — without a wait and with a friendly greeting and a little nails-drying shoulder knead. They’re extending their grand opening giveaways with promises of fresh flower bouquets the first few weeks of May. If you don’t see him (and he’s tiny so you might not), ask to meet the house’s adorable 6-week-old Maltese puppy.
Second, Nail Bar (above Leehe Fai), with its actual sparkly mosaic-tiled bar, should be open Saturday for cuticle cocktails and the like. I’ll report back on them in an upcoming blog. Until then, here’s to a chip-free week.
I’ve never once seen a salon staff so smitten with a product. The crew at Vanity wasn’t pushing me to buy it — they honestly just love it (for themselves and their clients). Moroccanoil is a multi-purpose product that uses oils from the Argan tree, which only grows in Morocco.
On Thursday, while I was getting a blow-out for a big NYC event I was off to, Edmondo and Melissa decided to condition my ends after my shampoo and then lather my hair in this miracle product. So what exactly does it do? It’s more like, what doesn’t it do: It sops up the extra oil if you have oily hair; it conditions and glosses if you have dry hair; it’s light and doesn’t weigh locks down; it cures scalp dryness and dandruff; it gives body and softness. Try it when your hair is wet before styling or leave it in overnight to get more out of its miracle powers. It’s safe for color-treated hair, reduces style time and is a UV protector. I know I sound like an infomercial right now, but after just one use, I can see why Vanity is in love. I am too.
Not that I needed extra reasons to hop over to Rescue Rittenhouse Spa these days (or any day, for that matter), but as I found out at a recent visit, there’s even more goodies now to lure us in.
Besides the usual skin-saving facials from Danuta, the owner, and well, face-saving eyebrow shaping sessions with Nives Riddle, makeup artist extraordinaire — and oodles of Biologique Recherche, Valmont, Chantecaille makeup and KeikoMecheri perfume — the spa has now got their own little reusable chocolate-brown canvas bags, and yummy-smelling SedaFrance candles, all marked with the Rescue logo that we Center City-ites have come to associate with the ultimate care and relaxation.
And one of my favorites, of their newest treats? These OKA b. flip-flops — with massaging beads on the cushioned footbed, they’re also antimicrobial (the material stays super clean — and you can toss them in the dishwasher if they need a rinse!), completely non slip, and made right here in the US.
That’ll be me, soon, down the Shore with the black Malibus (pictured).
Spa week kicks off today and hitting it up should definitely be on your agenda. The details: Select treatments for only $50 at tons of area spas and salons. And with Spring finally making an appearance—albeit, a fashionably late one — a little self-indulgence with the week-long event can pull anyone out of this winter funk for good. Think hour-long Swedish massages (or a mani/pedi combo) at Ananda, Spring green facials with all natural ingredients like apples and cucumbers at Pure Bliss Wellness Center, personalized massages — with body butter — at Rometta Salon and Spa and Jane Iredale makeup lessons at Harmonia Healing Arts Spa. Check out spaweek.org for more info. — Andrea Carayiannas
Bathing suit season is in sight. And, for the first time in a long time, I honestly can’t wait for its arrival. Not because I’m in bod-bearing shape — far from it — but because this summer, I, a genetically predisposed bikini hoarder (I swear, my sister keeps a stash dating back to the late 70s under a bed at our beach house) will, after eons of waiting, have a new place to fuel my two-piece addiction.
When the Borgata’s Water Club — you know, that giant, separate hotel tower that promises to become to A.C. what the Four Seasons is to Philly — opens this June, in it will be our region’s very first dedicated La Perla. The shop has vowed to stock the Italian designer’s famously sexy underthings, tastefully flowy garments, and, best of all, its skimpy to ornate swimwear. I’m hoping they’ll have this oh-so collectible little number.
$440 at La Perla for right now, online at laperla.com, but come June, at The Water Club at Borgata, 1 Renaissance Way, Atlantic City, 609-317-8888; TheWaterClubatBorgata.com.
High in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, 2,000 women have formed the Targanine Co-operative. They exclusively deal with the Argan Forest — planting new trees and harvesting the Argan almonds. The oil from these nuts is so multipurpose you can eat it — or, as Kiehl’s has discovered, smooth it all over your hair and body.
The skin and hair care mainstay (including ours on Walnut Street!) is launching their newest products this month, all using the oil from the nut, as provided (through fair-trade, of course — the company’s first tread into the world of fair-trade) through the co-op. The Superbly Restorative Body Lotion is really lightweight, helps with elasticity, and improves overall tone and texture. The Superbly Restorative Dry Oil can basically be smeared anywhere that needs hydration and protection—hair (it smoothes split ends and adds a healthy sheen) or skin (on your face and body).
I gave the dry oil a whirl on my gross-from-the-winter skin, and I have to say, it’s almost fascinating how quickly it gets absorbed. Of course, it could be because my skin is like a dry sponge right now, but the formula is certainly very light, yet very moisturizing. I can feel it later in the day in a not-greasy way, and my shoulders don’t look like an ashtray by the end of the day, either.
Just in case it does decide to act like spring around here, it’s nice to know I’m ready.
Sometimes I’ve got to spend hours and hours, days and days shopping just to find “The Thing I’m Going To Blog About.” All in the name of saving you time, reader. But there are many interpretations of the Good Life, and thus we, the Good Life Daily posters, are not the only ones doing your legwork.
Last week I got a blog comment from the lovely Daneen, another local cool-hunter. She’s got her own blog, Spoiled Pretty — where she tests and writes about products that make your skin softer, your lashes longer, your hair silkier, etc., etc. — which I happily recommend to you because: 1) Libra girls need to stick together; 2) I love the quotes she’s got from famous people about makeup; 3) She’s got contests for giveaways, meaning FREE stuff, and the low-down on sales deals.
Plus, I’m absolutely certain that the blogosphere is big enough for the both of us.
When I hear that a new product is multipurpose, I usually think of some chemical, irritating cleaner that I use to scrub down my apartment (Cleans your toilet and sink!). But when I tried Philly native Kristin Moses Murray’s Bordeaux Balm, multipurpose never felt so good. This tiny tub is filled with subtle-smelling skin soothing essential oils like grape seed—a salute to her family’s Charlottesville VA winery — cotton seed, soybean and coconut oils, that literally fix any dermis drama: On a recent sojourn to the cooler climate of the Pocono Mountains, it kept my cuticles and nails shiny, my dry elbows smooth, my lips hydrated and my razor burn at bay. Now only if it could clean my apartment. — Andrea Carayiannas
Spring is coming. I’m sure of it. The sun is getting stronger every day, and one of these mornings we are all going to wake up and find that we can, at long last, reach for that darling little sundress we bought when it first hit the racks in February, and has been taunting us from our closet ever since.
While spending Easter in Florida, I noticed one other thing, apart from my wildly untoned arms and winter-pale skin that was somewhat hampering my enjoyment of wearing such dresses: those blemishes that pop up on our shoulders and backs, after months of super dry skin being cooped up under heavy body creams and heavy fabrics. Good thing Clinique recently sent me their Acne Solutions Cleansing Body Bar, which has nicely promised to rid me of these particular troubles, that I may enjoy the clothes I blew my spring budget on that much more.
So far, I’ve only tried it a few times — but it’s got a surprising lather, and I must say, my skin feels literally squeaky clean after using it — it’s almost strange. And the results look promising: as I put on my daily white tank top this morning (sadly, the first of what would be many layers, now that I’m back in Philly), the coast was happily clear.
I can take a hint. When publicist extraordinaire Jamie Joffe “suggested” I “see” stylist Alan Gold, I realized it had come to this: My mop required outside intervention. Possibly of the divine variety.
Could Jamie see into my office window? Was that her in the back of my yoga class? Or, could it be that my brown mop had gotten so direly bland that word had spread across the Main Line and she felt it her civic duty to take drastic measures?
Possibly. Or, it could have been that she wanted to give me a scoop. Two scoops, actually. A double scoop.
Scoop # 1: For decades, Alan’s been doing the hair of best-kept Main Liners, Paris runway models, national beauty editors, and, according to rumor, the world’s most successful talk show hostess. Nonetheless, he adeptly, purposely, and, most of all, graciously flies under the radar.
Scoop # 2: As of a month ago, Raya Haig is Haig & Co. Gone is the oddly placed boutique. In are Alan’s very own elegant, in-the-work décor transformations, including a gold-leafed reception area, hardwood floors, birds-eye maple stations, and, coming soon, German salon chairs and new-and-improved wash, mani-pedi and waxing/facial areas. Sorta makes a girl wanna move in.
No such luck, though, as Alan expertly executed an impeccable quadruple-process color, cuticle-strengthening and softening treatment, a stragglers-banishing blunt cut, and laid out a top-of-the-line Japanese care regimen, all in — pay attention here, fellow color addicts — an astounding 2 hours and 30 minutes. There is a hair god. And his name is Alan Gold.
(If you, like me, are a first-timer, some directions: Next door to Saks, behind Chops, hidden in the rear of the BankNorth building — better to hide from the public, my dear.)
Haig & Company, 401 E. City Line Avenue, 610-668-5373
Just in time for must-mani, must-pedi season, two new nail salons have been added to the healthy mix of Rittenhouse-adjacent walk-ins. First, I got a very serviceable, 12-buck manicure at Jeans — without a wait and with a friendly greeting and a little nails-drying shoulder knead. They’re extending their grand opening giveaways with promises of fresh flower bouquets the first few weeks of May. If you don’t see him (and he’s tiny so you might not), ask to meet the house’s adorable 6-week-old Maltese puppy. 
I’ve never once seen a salon staff so smitten with a product. The crew at Vanity wasn’t pushing me to buy it — they honestly just love it (for themselves and their clients). 
Not that I needed extra reasons to hop over to 
Spa week kicks off today and hitting it up should definitely be on your agenda. The details: Select treatments for only $50 at tons of area spas and salons. And with Spring finally making an appearance—albeit, a fashionably late one — a little self-indulgence with the week-long event can pull anyone out of this winter funk for good. Think hour-long Swedish massages (or a mani/pedi combo) at 
Bathing suit season is in sight. And, for the first time in a long time, I honestly can’t wait for its arrival. Not because I’m in bod-bearing shape — far from it — but because this summer, I, a genetically predisposed bikini hoarder (I swear, my sister keeps a stash dating back to the late 70s under a bed at our beach house) will, after eons of waiting, have a new place to fuel my two-piece addiction. 
High in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, 2,000 women have formed the Targanine Co-operative. They exclusively deal with the Argan Forest — planting new trees and harvesting the Argan almonds. The oil from these nuts is so multipurpose you can eat it — or, as 
Sometimes I’ve got to spend hours and hours, days and days shopping just to find “The Thing I’m Going To Blog About.” All in the name of saving you time, reader. But there are many interpretations of the Good Life, and thus we, the Good Life Daily posters, are not the only ones doing your legwork. 
When I hear that a new product is multipurpose, I usually think of some chemical, irritating cleaner that I use to scrub down my apartment (Cleans your toilet and sink!). But when I tried Philly native Kristin Moses Murray’s Bordeaux Balm, multipurpose never felt so good. This tiny tub is filled with subtle-smelling skin soothing essential oils like grape seed—a salute to her family’s Charlottesville VA winery — cotton seed, soybean and coconut oils, that literally fix any dermis drama: On a recent sojourn to the cooler climate of the Pocono Mountains, it kept my cuticles and nails shiny, my dry elbows smooth, my lips hydrated and my razor burn at bay. Now only if it could clean my apartment. — Andrea Carayiannas
Spring is coming. I’m sure of it. The sun is getting stronger every day, and one of these mornings we are all going to wake up and find that we can, at long last, reach for that darling little sundress we bought when it first hit the racks in February, and has been taunting us from our closet ever since. 
I can take a hint. When publicist extraordinaire Jamie Joffe “suggested” I “see” stylist Alan Gold, I realized it had come to this: My mop required outside intervention. Possibly of the divine variety.